St Cuthbert's Close by M M Hudson BLOG TOUR #StCuthbertsClose #MMHudson @RandomTTours #BookExtract

 

A searing July heatwave. Four bodies.

When corpses begin turning up in abandoned County Durham coal mines, police detective Tony Milburn is pulled into a chilling mystery. All four dead within four days but can Saint Cuthbert’s ancient curse really be the cause?

Durham’s iconic Miners’ Gala suffers a bizarre disruption and, amid the chaos, several high value artefacts are stolen.

As the caseload heats up, the Major Crimes Team is understaffed and under pressure. Aided by the enigmatic surfer, Penfold, but suffering the obsessive attentions of DC Diane Meredith, Milburn comes up against his toughest investigation yet.

The fourth Penfold mystery novel digs deep into the north-east’s heritage, as long-buried church secrets and the legacy of coal intertwine in Saint Cuthbert’s Curse.

St Cuthbert's Curse by M M Hudson was published on 27 November and is the fourth in the Penfold detective series of books.  I am delighted to share an extract from the book with you today as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

Extract from St Cuthbert's Curse by M M Hudson 

Hardwick pre-empted the most obvious of the journalists’ question by announcing that the identities would not be made public yet, as two were unconfirmed and the families of the other two were still being “supported by specially trained officers”. This was a euphemism that could be interpreted as “give the families some time and space and privacy please” but could later be explained as having meant “we’re still investigating these deaths”.

After the initial slip about his rank, Tony was impressed by H’s presentation. It all went downhill from there though. The second part of the media briefing was a further presentation by Hardwick about the perils of entering old mine workings.

He came across as patronising, almost hectoring, while at the same time building up the intrigue surrounding the whole business. By the end, Tony himself was so fascinated about what was going on in Durham’s old pits that he too wanted to go and explore.

He stood beside the boss, with Meredith on his other side. They looked at each other and Tony could tell she was thinking the same thing about the prospects of people not heading out to find old pits to climb into. She whispered, ‘Let me salvage this.’

He didn’t know what she had in mind but was keen for H to stop speaking. When H paused to take a breath, Tony jumped in and introduced ‘DC Diane Meredith with more information’.

She was the exact contrast to Hardwick that was needed. Meredith’s narrative described going out to find one of the bodies. She was light on exact details and heavy on the harrowing nature of finding somebody unnecessarily dead down a rocky shaft in a lonely field. She bravely held back crocodile tears and described the anguish and shock of the deceased’s poor wife. The story was exaggerated or elements glossed over to most effectively emphasise  the senseless, unnecessary loss of life and why nobody should put themselves and their families at risk of the same sort of fate.

Tony was pleased that the running order meant people would only remember the parts about avoiding mineshafts. Or, more likely, the TV editors would cut out the growly old man and only air clips of the pretty young detective, so bravely helping people with no thought for the impact the job must be having on her own wellbeing.

That running order was scheduled to conclude with Milburn, as SIO, answering questions from the journalists. This was the trickier part as he was going to need to be elusive about some areas, such as IDs and the gory details. He had learnt many press conferences ago that the most effective and convincing way to approach this was to front up to it.

He answered the first question. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Gullon, but as this is an ongoing, live investigation, I can’t give out those details. Some parts of what I would say have not yet been confirmed by the forensics and pathology teams, and some parts might identify the victims’ families, which we are not prepared to do. I’m sorry to ask you to wait, but you understand that there are timely processes we must follow.’

The questioner would not be put off so easily. ‘Are you saying that these deaths could be criminal?’

‘I’m not commenting on the nature of the investigations, sorry. There are many ways people come to die, and we have to investigate all of them with impartiality, and sometimes maintaining impartiality requires us to withhold information initially. As you well know in your line of business.’ Tony smiled as he said this last sentence.

A man standing at the back had a newsprint lanyard but was also video recording the press conference. He called out, ‘Can you tell us about the theft of the Silver Swan from Bowes Museum?’

A buzz raised among the dozen assembled reporters. This was news to them, and it was a big scoop if true.

‘I can’t. I know there was a fire at the school next door yesterday but as far as we are aware there were no casualties from that. That is, of course, a matter for Barnard Castle police to investigate anyway.’

Tony’s distraction subterfuge did not suffice for the questioner. He persisted, ‘I know there were no injuries, but I’m talking about the Silver Swan. A priceless sculpture, made from thirty kilograms of silver, gone missing, while police and fire crews were in attendance. I believe DC Meredith was on site. What can you tell our readers about that?’

Meredith stepped forward. She wiped her eye in a manner Tony thought might be just a bit too melodramatic to survive the sceptics in the room. ‘You’re right, I was in the area yesterday morning and when I heard the call on the radio, I just had to stop and help out with the fire. They weren’t sure if there were any children in the boarding house at the time, so we all imagined the worst. Luckily, as it turned out, there were no injuries, as DI Milburn has already said.

‘However, as I understand it, the smoke was significant and even penetrated the Bowes Museum. Have they moved the Swan down to the conservation rooms in the basement in order to check that none of its workings were damaged? I really don’t know any details, I’m afraid. I’m just glad everyone was safe.’

She put a hand to her heart to emphasise her relief, and Tony again worried it was too excessively dramatic to fly. He seemed to be the only one, though, who was not snowed by her theatrics. There was an audible sigh of relief from those present as they were carried along by her tale. Except the man at the back who had asked the question. He gave a little frown and said nothing.

Miles Hudson loves words and ideas.

He’s a physics teacher, surfer, author, hockey player, inventor, backpacker and idler.

Miles was born in Minneapolis but has lived in Durham in northern England for more than 35 years.

Facebook MilesMHudson

www.mileshudson.com

The Trauma Effect by Zetta Thomelin BLOG TOUR #TheTraumaEffect @ZettaThomelin @RandomTTours #BookExtract

 

The Trauma Effect is a deeply moving and disturbing book that reveals in the most dramatic terms a family secret, a trauma, a tragedy that destroyed a family. This compelling and deeply poignant book exposes uncomfortable truths and traces a journey of recovery.

Trauma can leave an entire family with an inheritance of guilt, blame and shame, which can be absorbed unconsciously by descendants down the ages. This book shows how such learned trauma can be extinguished, so the next generation does not have to carry the burden of it too. The Trauma Effect highlights the urgent need to act, to grasp the skeleton, take it out of the closet and bury it once and for all.

This expanded second edition contains new approaches to understanding the response to trauma, a more detailed self-help section at the end of the book and more revelations around the family secret.

The Trauma Effect (Second Edition): Exploring and Resolving Inherited Trauma by Zetta Thomelin was published by Grosvenor House Publishing on 30 October 2025. I am delighted to share an extract from the book with you today as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour 

Extract from The Trauma Effect by Zetta Thomelin 

 

I wonder if there is a trauma tucked away in your family?

It could be your own experience, or something that has affected someone else, even from long ago.

Trauma will often ripple out into a family and affect far more than those directly involved, creating a problem that can last generations.

There is a trauma in my family, a hidden trauma.

I wanted to know more about it. I wanted to shine a light on what had remained concealed beneath a shroud of shame and consider the ways it may have affected me. This book reflects that journey from its first tentative steps to ultimately, a deep sense of resolution and understanding.

I am telling you my story both to understand it better and to help you to understand yours.

Much has been written about the impact of trauma, but when I began to investigate the idea of generational trauma - the trauma within families that, in effect, gets handed down from one generation to another, and so on - I realised at once that there was much less written about that. The old skeleton in the family cupboard which nobody can talk about can have a huge impact on the health of a family both physical and psychological. This is trauma that is subconsciously gifted to you, so you

are not necessarily aware that it is impacting on you, especially if the trauma happened before you were born.

At first, I began writing about generational trauma so I could understand it better for myself. But I soon realised that I wanted to create something readable and relatable to help other people, too, understand this concept of trauma passing down through generations, to help them to halt it and encourage them to address their family issues. I felt well placed to turn my work into something to help others.

As a therapist, having worked with trauma across a range of areas with my clients, telling my own story is somewhat exposing, and many therapists would shy away from such public scrutiny. But if this book helps someone else out there, even if it is just one person, then it has all been worthwhile.

Storytelling is a highly effective way to communicate ideas and to affect healing. I wanted to integrate this within a therapeutic journey. It is like one giant case study which can provide insight upon the subject for anyone who has experienced trauma or wishes to understand it more.

This book falls naturally into parts. I begin with the myth of the story in my family as I thought it to be and my perception of the impact it had on the different members of my family.

I then look for the real facts of the story for the first time, to show how stories can get altered and twisted, it can be very hard to step over a boundary of secrecy that has been there for a long time. To prevent the story I tell at the start of the book being influenced by the new information, I wrote the first part of the book before investigating the true story, so the truth really was a surprise to me, a real awakening and you experience that awakening with me.

I go on to examine the idea of generational trauma, epigenetics and the mind body connection to see how trauma may affect people, then I look at some therapeutic ideas to help, so you share my journey. The ideas presented can, I believe, be adapted to cover all kinds, and depths, of family trauma.

Zetta Thomelin - June 2023

Zetta Thomelin is a therapist in private practice, involved in the governance of
complementary medicine as Chair of BAThH, as Vice-Chair of UKCHO and as a Trustee of Research Council for Complementary Medicine

Prior to her career in therapy, she worked in the media at News International and Chronos Group Publishing and later in the Third Sector as CEO of Children with AIDS Charity and Vice Chair of Mama Biashara.

She is the author of two other books, The Healing Metaphor and Self-Help? Self-Hypnosis! 

For further information go to www.zettathomelin.com 

Estella's Fury by Barbara Havelocke #EstellasFury @BCopperthwait @HeraBooks @authorbarbara.bsky.social #BookReview

 

Daughter. Murderer. Saviour.

London, 1835.

To high society, Estella is the perfect lady. But her fair face hides dark secrets what has she done with her husband? And will her past crimes come back to haunt her?

Desperate to escape her troubled life, she visits her friend, Lady Taykall. But when a servant girl disappears, Estella stumbles on a horrifying web of crimes and feels the old fire for vengeance burning inside her.

To mete out her own brand of dark justice she must risk everything.

Even if it means she cannot survive.

Great Expectations meets Killing Eve in this stunningly dark Gothic crime thriller perfect for fans of Elizabeth Macneal, Stacey Halls, and Jessie Burton.

Estella's Fury by Barbara Havelocke was published on 13 November 2025 by Hera. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review. 

I admitted when I reviewed Estella’s Revenge in May last year that Victorian literature has never been my natural habitat. Dickens and co left me cold at school, and I was always itching to sneak back to my well-worn Jackie Collins or Shirley Conran paperbacks. But Estella’s Revenge changed my mind about revisiting those old stories, so when Estella’s Fury landed, I happily dived in

And what a return to Estella’s world this is.

We meet her in 1835 London, polished for high society, yet carrying enough secrets to fill the dustiest attic of Satis House. She may be the perfect lady to those who judge her by the clothes that she wears, but it quickly becomes clear that her marriage has left bruises far deeper than have been noticed. 

Barbara Havelocke once again gives Estella the voice she always deserved. We discover a woman who lives, breathes, fights and burns with a fierce intelligence. That perfect lady on the outside, storm of rage and righteousness underneath, make this book really thrilling.

The dual timeline is back, which I love,  allowing us to slip between Estella’s present circumstances and the shadows of her past. As she flees her deeply fractured life and takes refuge with Lady Taykall, a missing servant girl sets off a chain of events that drags Estella into a network of crimes more chilling than anything she has faced before. 

This book is wonderfully atmospheric. From fog-choked London streets to the unsettling opulence of aristocratic homes, every scene feels alive. Havelocke’s prose is so evocative you can almost taste the tension, smell the candle smoke, and hear the whispers behind the drawing-room doors. The plot twists are sharp, the pacing relentless, and the there are several characters that you will love to hate.

And once again, you don’t need to have read Great Expectations to enjoy a second of this. Estella’s Fury stands so well on its own, with its bold feminist undercurrent and a heroine who refuses to shrink to fit her era. She is flawed, vengeful, at times shockingly ruthless and always compelling. 

Highly recommended by me. Prepare to follow Estella into the darkest corners of London. You may not always approve of what she does… but you will absolutely devour her story.

Barbara is an international bestselling author, whose books have topped Amazon and Kobo, and also appeared on the USA Today chart. ESTELLA'S REVENGE has been nominated for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2025.

The follow up, ESTELLA'S FURY, will be published on 13 November 2025, and is available to preorder now.

As BARBARA HAVELOCKE she creates dark, tense Gothic historical thrillers set in the early Victorian era. Her contemporary psychological thrillers - including the Amazon Number 1 bestseller The Perfect Friend - are published under the name BARBARA COPPERTHWAITE.

For over twenty years Barbara wrote for & edited national magazines & newspapers, talking to victims of crime - and its perpetrators. Her fiction reflects this: she creates realistic characters, and often explores moral grey areas.

When not writing at her home in Birmingham, UK, Barbara spends time with her dogs, Scamp, Buddy, and Arty, or takes wildlife photographs which inspire her artwork.

Travels With Tracy by Andrew Pettifer #TravelsWithTracy @andrewpettifer @RandomTTours #BookExtract

 

Where do you want to go? What do you want to see? Who do you want to meet? These were the questions that were on Andrew Pettifer and his wife Tracy’s minds when creating a bucket list for their midlife gap year one warm, summer evening, a glass of wine in hand, a notes app open in the other.

Andrew’s second book, Travels with Tracy: Tales from a Midlife Gap Year, is not your typical travel memoir. With successful careers behind them, supportive families and a lifetime of hard work up their sleeves, Andrew and Tracy decided to pack up their lives and embark on a richly diverse two-year journey across four continents, and every state in Australia.

From exploring the outback in an RV to five-star hotels and open-top sports cars, their journey unfolds with a variety of experiences most can only imagine. Brimming with unforgettable adventures and encounters with remarkable people, Andrew takes readers from the Shibuya crossing and earthquakes in Tokyo to the Louvre and the Olympics in Paris, then all the way to the Amazonian rainforest and the breathtaking Galápagos Islands.

Closer to home, he braves the Alps 2 Ocean trail in stunning New Zealand and discovers the wonder of crossing the Nullarbor while playing the world’s longest golf course. As their travels unfold, Andrew and Tracy begin to ponder what makes life important, think deeply about what makes us who we are, and together come to understand life’s ultimate question – who do you want to be?

In Travels with Tracy, Andrew’s thoughtful search for truth and identity – delivered with wit and a fast pace – will inspire you to box up your life and dive headfirst into an adventure of your own.

Travels With Tracy : Tales From a Midlife Gap Year by Andrew Pettifer was published on 1 September. by Hembury Books. 
As part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour I am delighted to share an extract from the book with you today. 

Extract from Travels With Tracy by Andrew Pettifer 

Around the time that it opened in May 2022, I read an article about ABBA Voyage, a new show that uses computer generated avatars to perform a concert. Or, in this case, what they call ‘ABBAtars’. Producers wanting to cash in on the group’s ongoing popularity hounded the real Abba band members for years, wanting to organise a world tour, but they refused. Some very smart people then developed a new technology and pitched the idea of a lifelike virtual concert that would eliminate the band’s need to tour. They only needed to wear sensors and perform the concert in the studio a few times, enabling the computers to map their body movements to the music. 

We entered the darkened arena about ten minutes before the advertised start time and found it much like any other music venue in the lead up to a concert. Seventies pop music entertained the crowd. The large mosh pit was already heaving at the front as people gathered close to the stage, keen to get close to their idols. That those idols were back in Sweden, no doubt relaxing in their pine saunas enhanced by the aroma of essential oils, seemed to have escaped these fans’ attention. Maybe they hadn’t read the small print. 

Our seats were in the top row of the lower tier, about 15 rows back from the mosh pit floor. Behind us, a walkway wrapped around the venue in front of an upper tier which extended to the roof. To the left of the stage a band was warming up, as far as I could tell these were real actual people, of the flesh and bones variety. The atmosphere, in the sense of the prevailing mood, was one of excitement. In the sense of the air we were breathing, it was less engaging, containing the undeniable hint of body odour. 

It was time for the show to begin. One by one, our heroes walked onto the stage, waving to the crowd. Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anni-Frid were in our presence. Kind of. The technology, it has to be said, was mind blowing. The only way we knew this was not actually Abba on the stage was that they still looked as they had done in their pomp. Unless the clever people who came up with this entire event had also invented a time machine, this could not be real people, however much they looked like them. Not seeming too bothered one way or the other, the assembled 3,000 instantly suspended belief and bought into the notion that they were at an Abba concert, circa 1977. Well, nearly all of them did.

I turned to Tracy, to share this moment of wonderment, and was met by a furrowed brow.

“This is weird,” she said, looking around at the crowd as the ABBAtars started to sing, accompanied by the crowd. “Everyone seems to have lost their minds.”

“Just go with it. Forget they’re not actually human and enjoy the show,” I said.

“But it’s so weird,” Tracy said. “It’s freaking me out. It's a deep fake deception presented as entertainment.”

They say pop music is the soundtrack to our lives and Abba’s heyday coincided with my teenage years. It was a stage of life I loved; enjoying school, sport and girls, not necessarily in that order. My favourite band was The Jam, who were high on the cool quotient, but secretly I also loved Abba, who weren’t. 

Unlike Tracy, I could put aside the undeniable weirdness of the whole experience and engage in two of my favourite activities; singing and dancing. The former I have got away with on the occasions that I have been persuaded, or was sufficiently inebriated, to take to the karaoke microphone. My dancing, on the other hand, is distinctly of the dad variety. So singing and dancing to Abba, flesh and bones or illusory pixels, I didn’t mind. It was just great fun to be reminded of the carefree days of my teenage years. I sang along to my heart’s content. 

The show continued, the apparently real people in the band playing support to the virtual stars of the show. At times the production fell back on video, presumably to give the ABBAtars the opportunity for a virtual toilet break. Inevitably, the show reached a crescendo with the rendition of Dancing Queen. Even avatars like to be encouraged to do an encore, it seemed, so we all cheered and stamped our feet until they reappeared for a communal singing of The Winner Takes it All. The winner in this case being the people who came up with this idea, no doubt raking in the profits.

As the crowd waited to see whether a second encore would be forthcoming, something wonderful happened. The real Abba came onto the stage. Not the 1977 version but the elegant, but undeniably aged, 2023 version. Thanking everyone for coming and waving to the crowd for the last time, they sauntered back off the stage.

“Isn’t that amazing,” I said to Tracy, “they actually turned up to thank us after all.”

Tracy looked at me, hesitating momentarily before the undeniable truth came to both of us. ABBAtars can be whatever age the producers want them to be.

As we left the venue to walk back to our hotel, we shared our views on the show.

“The technology was unbelievable,” was my verdict. “Such a good show.”

“Just weird,” said Tracy.

Andrew Pettifer is a British–Australian author whose work explores the quirks of the human condition, the joys of travel, and a lifelong devotion to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

Born and raised in London, Andrew enjoyed a 35-year career as a chartered building services engineer, holding senior roles with global firms Arup and Mott MacDonald after relocating to Sydney in 2007. Throughout his working life, he cultivated an interest in leadership, human behaviour and storytelling. He has written extensively for the engineering industry, with articles published in The Fifth Estate and the CIBSE Journal.

In 2023, Andrew retired to pursue his passion for travel, sport and writing. With career ambitions fulfilled and a shared desire to live life to the full, he embarked on a midlife gap year with his wife Tracy that took them across four continents and every state in Australia. These journeys – filled with humour, insight and a fascination for people and places – inspired his upcoming travel memoir Travels with Tracy. 

Andrew’s first book, When the Final Whistle Blows, is a deeply personal chronicle of the 2024/25 Spurs season under Ange Postecoglou, and a heartfelt tribute to Cameron Whyte, former leader of the Sydney OzSpurs and a warrior in his fight against cancer. Both books will be published by Hembury Books in 2025.

Andrew’s writing invites readers to reflect on their own stories, embrace new adventures at any age, and find meaning in life’s unpredictability. With a talent for finding humour in everyday moments, he shares tales of reinvention and resilience – and the emotional rollercoaster of following Tottenham Hotspur for over sixty years.

andrewpettifer.com

His Truth Her Truth by Noelle Holten #HisTruthHerTruth @nholten40 @0neMoreChapter_ @noelleholten.bsky.social @harpercollins.bsky.social #BookReview

 

An anonymous call raises the alarm. Two bodies found as a result of a home invasion. Then the police see the knives.

One in his hand.

One in hers.

Joe and Beth appeared to have the perfect relationship. But there are two sides to every story.

His truth. Her truth. And the actual truth.

In this web of lies, only one person can be telling the truth, can’t they?

His Truth Her Truth by Noelle Holten was published by One More Chapter / Harper Collins in March 2025. I've bought two copies of this one, the physical book for myself and the ebook for #TheBloke

I've read all of Noelle Holten's DC Maggie Jamieson series and really enjoyed them. I like something a little unusual in my crime fiction and this author is full of original ideas. The premise for this, her latest standalone novel is so enticing. I read it whilst taking a last minute sunshine break in Gran Canaria earlier this month. 

His Truth, Her Truth pulls you in from the very first page with a chilling premise: a couple who appear perfect, a violent home invasion, and two bodies discovered with knives, one in each of their hands. From then on, Noelle Holten expertly builds a web of uncertainty, forcing the reader to consider how fragile truth can be when seen through different eyes.

The plot is twisty without ever feeling gimmicky. Each chapter, narrated by the lead characters provides new details that change your understanding of Joe and Beth’s relationship, and make you think about who you trust and why. The author does a fabulous job of tightening the tension, giving just enough information to keep you hooked while holding back the pieces that matter most.

What really worked so well for me is the complex, deeply human, characters. Joe and Beth aren’t simple victims or villains; they’re flawed, vulnerable, and so real. The author deals with themes of perception, control, and emotional truth with sensitivity.

Without giving anything away, the narrative plays brilliantly with perspective. You’re constantly aware that you’re being shown only part of the picture, yet you can’t help trying to solve the puzzle. 

If you love psychological thrillers that are character-driven, emotionally layered, and packed with jaw-tightening suspense, then this one fits the bill. Noelle Holten delivers a gripping, clever, and thought-provoking mystery that keeps you turning pages long after you promise yourself “just one more chapter.”

Highly recommended for fans of twisty domestic suspense and unreliable narrators.

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. 

She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of risk cases as well as working in a multi agency setting. 

She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Master’s in Criminology.

They Had It Coming by Nikki Smith #TheyHadItComing @Mrssmithmunday @PenguinUKBooks @nikkismithauthor.bsky.social #BookReview

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer . . .

Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie. They've been a four for as long as they can remember: fancy dinners, dancing 'til dawn . . . Even living and working together.

So when Nate and Layla suddenly quit their lives and move to Bali, with its white sands and exotic beach clubs, Jude and Sophie are their first visitors. Anything to escape their life in London.

But as the two couples reunite, cracks begin to show.

Which is hardly surprising; they've been lying to each other for years.

And now, it's time for revenge.

They Had it Coming by Nikki Smith was published on 22 May 2025 by Penguin. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

They Had It Coming is one of those juicy, sun-drenched thrillers that lures you in with beautiful beaches and close friendships… then slowly reveals the dark undercurrents hiding just beneath the surface. Nikki Smith has a real talent for taking a glamorous setting and turning it into something wonderfully unsettling.

The story follows two long-time couple-friends; Nate and Layla, Jude and Sophie, whose lives have been entangled for years. When Nate and Layla suddenly relocate to Bali, their friends are quick to follow for what they assume will be a fun holiday. However, nothing about this getaway is as sunny as the setting suggests. As the cocktails flow and old memories bubble up, you can feel the tension tightening and tightening. 

Nikki Smith’s writing is sharp, inviting, and full of sly little details that make you constantly question what you think you know. Each character is flawed in a very human way, and watching the group dynamics unravel is both addictive and uncomfortable. She builds suspense with a slow burn that never drags; I was eagerly flipping the pages to see who’s hiding what and how far they’ll go to protect their secrets.

What I really love is the way the author explores friendship: the kind you outgrow, the kind you cling to out of habit, and the kind that becomes toxic without anyone noticing until it's too late. It’s a thriller, but it’s also a careful look at the power shifts and silent resentments that can rot relationships from the inside.

If you enjoy twisty psychological suspense set against a stunning backdrop, with messy characters, layered motives, and a delicious sense of dread, this one is absolutely worth packing in your beach bag.

A fun, tense, and compulsively readable tale of secrets, lies, and the revenge that’s been a long time coming.

Nikki Smith worked in finance until 2017, when a 'now or never' moment prompted her to
apply for the Curtis Brown Creative writing course. 

She is the author of five novels and co-host of the podcast In Suspense. 

She lives in Guildford with her family and loves to travel, ideally somewhere hot and sunny.

www.nikkismithauthor.com

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage by Kim Nash BLOG TOUR #LifeBeginsatheCornishCottage @KimTheBookworm @BoldwoodBooks @kimthebookworm.bsky.social #Giveaway #Win #Competiton #Prize

 

When Tom Sullivan returns to the quiet village of Sandpiper Shore, Emma can hardly believe her eyes. She hasn’t seen him since they played Romeo and Juliet in their school play – a lifetime ago, before real heartbreak, and long before she ever imagined life as a widow.

The last thing she wants is to relive the past, especially with someone who once made her teenage heart flutter. But when Emma agrees to put on a charity pantomime to raise money for the air ambulance service that helped her late husband, she’s thrown firmly back into Tom’s path.

As rehearsals begin and the local community rallies around her, Emma finds unexpected joy in bringing people together – and a surprising connection with Tom that feels far too real to ignore. Maybe it’s time for Emma to become the leading lady in her own life, not just for the show, but for herself.

Full of warmth, humour and heart, this is a story about letting go and discovering that it’s never too late to take a chance on love.

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage by Kim Nash was published by Boldwood Books on 31 October 2025. I have one paperback copy to give away today, as part of this Blog Tour, jointly organised by Random Things Tours, Compulsive Readers, Rachel's Random Resources and Zooloo's Book Tours.
Entry is simple, just fill out the competition widget in the blog post. UK entries only please. 

GOOD LUCK! 

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage

Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, romantic, feel-good fiction, having wanted to write books since she was a little girl. 

She works as both Digital Publicity Director for publisher Bookouture. 

She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni. 

When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog and reading, as well as running a book club in Staffordshire and organising local and national reader/author events